I'm Going To War With The Covenant!

[Z]

I've read and thoroughly enjoyed many build threads on our great forums. I've always planned to do one myself someday, but I always figured it'd be something normal, like a 3-speed Jeep. Well, when I first saw the Pro-Line Helios body, I began making plans to build something with that body. I finally got enough mad money together to start the build, so here it is: I'm building a scale version of the M12 Warthog LRV from the Halo videogame trilogy.

My goals with this project are too build a Warthog based off the Pro-Line Helios body (already ordered and received), as mentioned. My plan is to base it off of a Losi Mini LST (just won on eBay). Now, I think the MLST is the best option for this build, but it's not perfect. The width is about 2" too wide, but I discovered that just about every 1/18 chassis has about the same width. Thus, the suspension will be a bit beefier than on a true Warthog, hence the title: "Lifted" Warthog. I also am working on a fully furnished interior. I want to try my hand at making backlit dispays along with head-and tail lights, and that is one of the spots where I'll need you help! I will also have an authentic Halo driver figure, the Master Chief. However, I could use some input on who will occupy the passenger seat.

Master Chief (center) will have the wheel, but should another SPARTAN (like himself) ride shotgun, or one of his Elite allies (left and right)

So far, I haven't done much. All I've done is make a cardboard mock-up of the interior, that will later be copied in stiff plastic. It is also subject to change when actually mounted on the chassis (sorry for my sorry photography, and yes the center console is missing one side!):

The real Warthog cockpit looks like this:

So, as I wait for the MLST to arrive, I have a few questions for all you savvy scratch-builders:

-- The Warthog has a very distinctive color. I was planning to start with metallic green and work for their, but does anyone have a way to nail the color a bit more directly (maybe a layer of metallic green covered by a layer of olive green)?

-- Should the LED bulbs be wired parallel or in a series (I'm guessing series), and how many volts should I use?

-- What type of paint should I use to paint the displays, allowing for backlight?

-- finally, and maybe this would be be better asked on a Halo forum, but would you prefer a Marine like Master Chief in shotgun, or an alien Elite compatriot (as I already mentioned)?

More questions will surface as a go on, so I hope you'll stay tuned. I also hope you'll enjoy reading this thread as much as I'll like updating it!

EDIT: Freeimagehosting.net is finicky. Some image might not appear all the time. I'm looking for a new hosting service.

[Shodog]

somebodies been playing Halo 3 too much.

I always thought a TLT would be a great base for that proline body.

[dready]

4WS on a Losi Mini T? how are you going to tackle that one?

well you got me hooked already i'm a sucker for Halo all day long.

Good luck and keep up the good work.

i always use photobucket for picture hosting never seem to get any problems

neil

[Z]

somebodies been playing Halo 3 too much.

What makes you say that ? Actually, I don't own any sort of game console myself (too many other hobbies); I play Halo at friends' houses. I'm more of a plot-guru anyway; thank goodness their are novels to read!

I always thought a TLT would be a great base for that proline body.

I thought of using that, but the axles are WAY too wide, and the Warthog has independent suspension on all four corners, not solid axles.

4WS on a Losi Mini T? how are you going to tackle that one?

well you got me hooked already i'm a sucker for Halo all day long.

Good luck and keep up the good work.

i always use photobucket for picture hosting never seem to get any problems

neil

I'm not using a Mini T, I'm using Mini LST. Nevertheless, the Chief will have to do without 4WS for the time being; someday I might replace the rear end with another front end to the convert it to 4WS. Thanks for the interest, too !

[dready]

What makes you say that ? Actually, I don't own any sort of game console myself (too many other hobbies); I play Halo at friends' houses. I'm more of a plot-guru anyway; thank goodness their are novels to read!

I thought of using that, but the axles are WAY too wide, and the Warthog has independent suspension on all four corners, not solid axles.

I'm not using a Mini T, I'm using Mini LST. Nevertheless, the Chief will have to do without 4WS for the time being; someday I might replace the rear end with another front end to the convert it to 4WS. Thanks for the interest, too !

I had a think last night you could use two ta03f gearboxes that would get you 4ws and also twin motors!

Need a bit of power to get away from the Flood :-)

[Z]

I had a think last night you could use two ta03f gearboxes that would get you 4ws and also twin motors!

Need a bit of power to get away from the Flood :-)

Twin TA03F gearboxes would give lots of power, and they're only 1 inch wider than the body (the MLST is 2" wider), but they'd have almost no ground clearance, and I think the wheels would be out of proportion with the body (kinda like one of Tamiya's mini 4WDs). It's hard to imagine just how small the Helios body is without seeing it. Anyway, the MLST is already bought and paid for, I'm just awaiting delivery.

[Z]

Okay, my Mini LST and Halo mini figures arrived today:

This is a limited edition set of figures, numbered 1-5000, that I got for a song. Nevertheless, it's kinda bittersweet opening it up:

The MLST looks good too, all it need is the receiver rewired, and for $68 bucks shipped, you can't go wrong!

I've also been doing some detail work on the body, consisting of the painting the access recess panels on the body. Very carefully . I also masked the body to prepare it for its first coat of Krylon ultra flat green. It's interesting to note that Krylon automotive paints adhere great to lexan and won't crack or chip, I tested it on a piece of scrap lexan!

Now were getting somewhere, but in case you didn't notice, the wheelbase is 2 inches too short! I was already planning on lengthening the chassis, but that's not gonna make slicing a perfectly good MLST in half any less gruesome! Thus are the trials of scratch-building, I guess.

I'll be working a lot more now that all my parts are here, so expect more updates soon! Until then, I still have a few questions:

--I'm still in the dark about whether to wire the LEDs that will be in the cockpit in parallel or series, and with how much voltage?

--Also, what type of paint should I use to allow backlight on the displays?

That's about it for now, because it 10-of-1 AM and I'm wiped! Thanks for reading!

[Z]

It's been a few days since the last update; Memorial Day threw me off a bit.

Oh yeah, sorry for the triple post, but I would need some feedback in order to prevent that and break the chain!

I started on reworking the wheels with Bondo to better replicate the true Warthog rims. After it dried, I shaped the Bondo with an x-acto knife and painted it in Model Master medium green, with Tamiya black accents.

The chassis was then chopped in half and will be lengthened later. the two ends of the chassis "rails" were then covered in Bondo. The lengths of metal that will connect to both sides of the chassis to lengthen it will mount their via two bolts on each side (I'm not sure if that made much sense; it will become clearer in time).

In the meantime, I cut out a lengthened center skidplate with my 20 year old jigsaw and lousy cutting skills. Luckily, it'll be on the underside where no one can see it!

You can now start to see how long the chassis will be when completed.

In closing, I also sprayed the body in its first color- black will be added later. I think my Warthog is really starting to take shape!

I feel like I've done a lot, but there's still much more to be done. Not the least of which is the turret, which I originally thought I would skip, but I finally realized that a Warthog without a turret is like an F1 race without a crash: just no fun!

If you can help with any of my questions in the above posts, please do! I'm at a brick wall so far as LEDs go. Actually, any feedback on my project would be great, I could use any advice or encouragement you've got; and it would keep me from quadruple-posting in my next update!

Thanks for reading!

[Mighty flex]

you could make a little mongoose to go with it from a micro losi...

- the tyres look about right

and maybe a scorpion, maybe wraiths and ghost will be hard.

[Z]

I actually did throw around an idea about making an ATV out of the Losi Mini T, but scrapped it because there are no ATV shells, toy or otherwise, in that scale. But believe me, if Pro-line ever makes a Mongoose body for the Mini or Micro T, I'll be all over it!

[Z]

More updates! Sorry to those watching the thread for taking so long.

I finished lengthening the chassis by bolting the side rails into holes drilled in the Bondo. The whole assembly is very solid- and very heavy! Maybe its time to look at a new spur gear.

I built the signature Warthog winch out of sheet metal, an old thread reel, and twine painted silver. It's positioned a bit too high, but I can't really get it any lower.

I started work on the turret gun, too. The gun itself came from a toy and the armor on either side is scrap lexan.

The interior from post #1 has been copied in sheet plastic. The steering wheel is a water bottle cap cut to the proper size and shape. It will be sprayed black and backlit cockpit displays will be added.

Lastly, the body was given it's last color; so I can sign off on painting it. The overspray film and window masks will stay in place until I install the running lights, just to be in the safe side.

That's about it for now, but I would like to thank DeeMiller for his prompt answers to my PM's about LED wiring. He was a huge help! I've got my LEDs on order, so please stayed tuned, and give me some feedback if you can! Thanks for reading!

[Z]

This will be a short update- most of the work I've done lately has been finesse work on the dashboard displays. They are laid out in the same pattern they will be on the truck. The one on the left didn't come out as good as I hoped. Paint ran between the layers of plexiglass- hopefully the backlight will help hide it. The keypad on the display on the top right is a tiny printout of the keypad from a Motorola Razer phone. The bottom display is a "GPS screen" which is actually a map of the "Avalanche" mulitplayer level from Halo 3, with icons marking where weapons and vehicles are, if only you could see them!

The interior has been sprayed Krylon ultra flat black and fit to the chassis. I had to mod it a bit to fit over the electronics at the rear, but it worked out fine. Seats need to be added, too, but wait 'til you see it with the body on!

Lastly, the LED bulbs arrived today, the only problem is I can't tell the red and white bulbs apart (the blue are diffused, so I recognize them)! I need to make a trip to Radioshack to get the rest of the electronic components I need, and then burn through a bulb or two figuring out the color, then I can finally light this bad boy up!

Thats all for now, only one or two more updates and this thing'll be done, so stay tuned! Thanks for the 350-odd views you've given me so far, and please post if you have any questions, comments, even criticisms! Thanks for reading!

[Z]

This is the second-to-last update; there'll only be one more- I promise!

The turret mount was cut out of sheet metal, sprayed ultra flat black, and mounted to the rear shock tower. Its not going anywhere!

The seats were formed out of sculpy clay, and sprayed, what else, ultra flat black! Be sure to notice the accidental-on-purpose wear on the cushions!

I finally got around to lengthening the rear driveshaft. I cut the original one in half and clamped each end into opposite ends of a copper tube using model aircraft wheel axle collars.

I also secured the headlights and running lights into their proper positions. I did leave holes for the LED bulbs to be placed in. Taillights and dashboard displays are coming soon.

I've only got one more update after this, so please don't stop watching. The best step will undoubtedly be the last!

I do have two new questions that I really need help on:

--How would I go about making a whip antenne (without using the SRB antenne)?

--What is the lowest possible gear ratio that can be used in an MLST, and what spur/pinion combo should I use the get it?

If you can help, please do! Thanks for reading!

[Z]

This is what I thought would be the last update, but something came up- more on that later.

I mounted the rear bumper using two metal plates, one secured to the old bumper and the other to the shock tower. The license plate and bumper sticker will mean something to Halo fans.

The seats, backlit displays, and crew have also been added, the pics just don't do it justice!

The turret has been mounted along with an ammo belt and ammo can. The original gun barrel was replaced with a tri-barrel to be more authentic

The exterior is pretty much done...

...but now we turn the lights off! Pics speak louder than words, but they still don't do it justice! My camera stinks in the dark.

In real life, you can read the backlit displays.

Lastly, I made the whip antenna from a piece of mig welding wire (thanks to Backlash for the suggestion). It's not quite is "whippy" as I like, but it does the job.

I thought that this would be the last update, but the stupid wheels in my head have thought of a way to make it 4-wheel-steering for around $20, and I can't let it go. So next time, in what I hope will be my last update, I post how its done. Thanks for reading!

EDIT: I ran into problems with the 4WS. Durability would have been extremely compromised. I finished my Warthog with front wheel steering only. Thus the build is done, thanks to those who bore with me to the finish, I hope you enjoyed it. I sure did!